The Senate Foreign Relations committee will conduct a public hearing on Monday morning two bills seeking the adoption of a Philippine Maritime Zone in the South China Sea.
These bills were authored by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Senator Ramon ‘’Bong’’ Revilla Jr.
The measures sought to clear up in the map the maritime zones of the Philippines based on international laws.
In 2016, the United Nations Arbitration Court rejected China’s ‘’historic’’claim over most parts of the South China and declared the Philippines as the winner in its territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Also to be discussed by the committee chaired by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is Senate Resolution 954 authored by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson which asked the 24-member Senate to condemn the bullying tactics of China in the WPS.
Lacson filed the resolution after Chinese Coast Guard vessels water-cannoned two civilian boats laden with supplies for soldiers manning a grounded Philippine ship in the Ayungin Shoal.
The water-cannoning prompted President Duterte to emphasize that nations must respect the legitimacy of the UN court ruling.
Invited by the Pimentel committee to attend the hearing were officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of National Defense (DND), and experts on international law.